Just When We Have Sunk As Low As a Society Can Go, We Manage to Dig Our Pit of Depravity Even Deeper!

A breaking news headline (Jan 24, 2013) has informed us with the exciting revelation that the Pentagon is lifting the ban on women being directly involved in combat operations. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta in releasing the information stated that it was “the responsibility of every citizen to protect the nation.” And the present resident of the White House had to say something too – in his words the decision to involve females in direct combat circumstances would “be another step toward fulfilling our nation’s founding ideals of fairness and equality.”

We have dug a pit of depravity for ourselves that is about as deep as it can possibly be with our lack of respect for human life – that is, the intentional destruction of thousands of unborn children every week. A recent poll has indicated that most United States citizens want this carnage to continue and to preserve the ruling of Roe v. Wade intact, which is what the nation’s top elected “leader” wants also! But we have managed to make the pit a bit deeper in the bizarre announcement that now women will be able to have direct participation in military combat operations. You have already read the insane comments of two persons who are supposed to be in positions of leadership.

In older times when wisdom, common sense, and deep God-fearing moral convictions dominated the mindset of those elected to lead our republic, it was believed that men did the fighting in military conflict when that became a very nasty necessity. While women served in the military, it was always out of harm’s way as much as possible. It was a commonly held belief that a nation did everything it could to protect the women and the children in the event of armed conflict. And who was to do the protecting? The answer was simple – the men!

Having been trained a long, long time ago on how to use weapons against an enemy and how to tear an enemy up with a bayonet in the ugly “hand to hand” stuff, it is impossible for me to try to visualize what it would be like to be alongside a female while trading bullets with an enemy a few yards away. Personally, I am afraid I would be greatly distracted by worrying about her well being and protection in the midst of all the action. Yeah, that’s the male chauvinist coming out of me! I still believe in trying to be a gentleman and treat a lady like a lady – I still open doors in public places for a lady entering or leaving a building.

But the very worst thing in this "grand opportunity" of sending women into full combat operations is something that our “leaders” have not seriously thought about or they are so hopelessly brainwashed into the delusion that a “woman can do anything a man can do and probably do it better.” Want to think for a moment what will happen to those females if they happen to be captured by the enemy? Sit down and write some of the details as to what will transpire. Oh, make sure you warn the reader that what they are about to read carries a XXX rating!

However, that really doesn’t matter now, does it? We have taken “another step toward fulfilling our nation’s founding ideals of fairness and equality.”

Oh, by the way - on that matter of a woman being able to do anything a man can do, and probably do it better anyway -- I have yet to see a female on the starting lineup and playing the position of nose tackle on even one of the NFL teams - have you?

Wives, be in subjection unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord...But as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives also be to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself up for it...Even so ought husbands also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his own wife loveth himself…. --- Ephesians 5:22, 24, 25, 28

Another Happening on December 14, 2012 Is Ignored and Vehemently Denied!

Moreover Manasseh shed innocent blood very much, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another; besides his sin wherewith he made Judah to sin, in doing that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah. --- 2 Kings 21:16

On December 14, 2012 in Newtown CT Adam Lanza, 20 years old, entered Sandy Hook Elementary School and shot 20 children and 6 adults to death. This tragic happening not only shook our republic but many other nations in this world as well.

The media immediately went into “shark in bloody water mode” with a constant stream of reports from the massacre scene and a barrage of statements issued by persons who had some kind of position somewhere within the borders of the United States! And it actually continues to an extent a month later. Our local NBC affiliate in Johnstown PA (WJAC TV) makes its pilgrimage to Newtown CT on a repetitive basis to dredge up something – sort of like a vulture returning to the bones to get that very last piece of rotting flesh on the rib cage!

Now then, do you realize this – that on that very same day hundreds (not just dozens) – yes, hundreds – perhaps as many as 3,000 innocent unborn children were intentionally mutilated and murdered in their so-called “mothers’” wombs in the “land of the free and the home of the brave?” Yes, it happened on December 14, 2012!

Answer me – how many of our diligent media reported this far greater massacre that took place on December 14, 2012? How many of our high profile elected officials pointed out this abomination as they prattled on and on about the shooting of small children and adults in a school in Connecticut?

And of course, as could have been expected, the anti-gun campaign began with such intensity that it would make a presidential campaign seem like an amateur contest in its earliest stages! Again, elected officials led the way with declarations of the need to ban guns or at the very least so restrict gun owners that owning a gun is about the worst thing you can be guilty of doing and you need to pay some kind of exorbitant price for such an offense.

Mr. Obama was quick to jump on the anti-gun bandwagon with all sorts of statements issued including the not so veiled threat to use executive “power” in order to bring a high degree of control on the availability and use of firearms.

But in all the flood of words that spewed forth from all officials (self-appointed and otherwise) including the present resident of the White House, did you hear one word of concern about the massacre of hundreds of innocent unborn children on December 14, 2012?

While the media has overwhelmed us with talk about banning guns and reducing violence as a result of usage of those horrible gadgets, have there been any proposals from our elite leadership about banning the tools used to rip apart an unborn child so that the pieces are scattered out on a table and a “doctor” (term used very loosely) takes an inventory so that he/she is certain everything is accounted for – before the pieces are then discarded as casually as throwing a tissue into the garbage can after blowing one’s nose into that tissue?

The greatest tragedy of all in this matter is not the killing of persons in a place in the state of Connecticut or even the daily destruction of hundreds of unborn children in a republic known as the United States of America – the ultimate tragedy is that we have leadership (political and church) so blind and so ignorant that they fail to realize that the God Who formed this mighty universe by mere spoken command is going to make His response to this massive “shedding of innocent blood” that has been going on for forty years as of January 22, 2013!

No culture in the past has practiced the “shedding of innocent blood” and gotten off without incalculable consequences – in fact they now lie in ruins somewhere in this dismal world. It is a guarantee that the United States will prove to be no exception!

And I saw when he opened the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the whole moon became as blood; and the stars of the heaven fell unto the earth, as a fig tree casts her unripe figs when she is shaken of a great wind. And the heaven was removed as a scroll when it is rolled up; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth, and the princes, and the chief captains, and the rich, and the strong, and every bondman and freeman, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains; and they say to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: for the great day of their wrath is come; and who is able to stand?” --- Revelation 6:12-17

Letter to Editor About that Fiscal Cliff!

The letter printed below was sent to editors of the following newspapers: The Indiana Gazette in Indiana PA, The Punxsutawney Spirit in Punxsutawney PA, Mainline Newspapers in Ebensburg PA, and The Tribune-Democrat in Johnstown PA.

*** *** ***

Friday, December 14, 2012

Editor:

At present time the news arena is dominated with one subject that is summarized in the expression “fiscal cliff.” As the president and the Congress attempt to maneuver for positions of great influence in this debacle, the image of a 3-ring circus quickly comes to mind.

The tragedy in this is the failure to realize that the real crisis is not the possibility of falling over a fiscal cliff but the hard reality that we have already fallen over a moral cliff!

Our version of Holocaust has resulted in over 55 million unborn victims. Our idolatry is on a level comparable to the ancient Roman Empire. Our sexual immorality is now pandemic in nature. We continue to brainwash the majority of our young with the deadly doctrine that we have evolved from lower life forms, hence, there is no personal need for God if He really does exist.

Mounting evidence suggests that it is simply a matter of time until Almighty God, Who is calling us to repent of our personal and corporate sins, deals with our nation as He has dealt with others in the past whose ruins now pique the interests of archeologists!

Clayton D. Harriger, Pastor

*** *** ***

"You shall speak My words to them, whether they hear or whether they refuse, for they are rebellious. But you, son of man, hear what I say to you. Do not be rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you." --- Ezekiel 2:7, 8

Lesson from a Bulldog!

Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for so did their fathers to the false prophets. Luke 6:26

I have participated in the famous social network known as Facebook for quite some time and have a few hundred persons known as "friends" on the network. Over time there has been a lot of interaction and many responses to things I have posted.

In dealing with responses I have tried to learn a lesson which was revealed through the experience one pastor had many years ago.

The pastor was walking down a sidewalk toward the home of a church member he wanted to visit. Before he reached his destination, he noticed some distance away an English bulldog coming in his direction in the middle of the sidewalk. As the two got closer to one another there was a sudden barking from a small dog in the yard of one home as the bulldog passed by. But the bulldog never so much as gave a glance in the direction of the one making all the noise. It was one of those "yap" dogs - small in size, but big in the mouth and always yapping all the time about something. But the bulldog would not be distracted. He continued to lumber along at a steady pace looking straight ahead.

The pastor reports that he too had been walking in the middle of the sidewalk and now this bulldog was getting close -- he was still in the middle of the sidewalk and gave no indication that he was going to change his position. So the pastor said that he stepped to the side of the walk and the bulldog just kept going with not the slightest hesitation, passing by the pastor without glancing a bit at him -- same response as he had made to the yap dog just a short time earlier.

The pastor turned and watched as the bulldog continued on his way -- it was obvious that the bulldog was headed somewhere and was not about to be detoured or distracted regarding his destination. After a bit as the bulldog got further away, the pastor said he bowed his head and prayed, "God, give me what that bulldog has!"

Due to posting subject matter related to my website and my blog as well as a wide variety of images with comments, there have been numerous responses. Some have been complimentary and express in one or another agreement with the posting. But others have been quite negative and in some cases those responding have been extremely upset to the point of labeling me in not very flattering terms! I do not respond to such -- yes, I could engage in the art of trying to set them "straight" but I won't -- I have more important things to do. The bulldog had a destination toward which he was moving and he was not about to be distracted from that by a yap dog with its noise or a pastor standing in the side walk. I also have a destination toward which I am moving -- and I have to be careful that I do not allow myself to be distracted and/or detoured along the way.

That bulldog was a good teacher! I am grateful for his example, so, "Lord, give me what that bulldog has!"

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." --- Matthew 5:10-16

Imagine No Malaria!

The ministry mission statement is: Imagine No Malaria is an extraordinary effort of the people of The United Methodist Church, putting faith into action to end preventable deaths by malaria in Africa, especially the death of a child or a mother.

Imagine No Malaria (Advance Special #3021190) The Illinois Great Rivers Conference has begun its campaign to raise between $2.3 and $3.5 million over the next three ...

Every 60 seconds, malaria claims a life in Africa. Millions of lives, needlessly lost each year. A continent. Entire nations…slipping away. Slipping through life ..

[the preceding are some texts with links on Imagine No Malaria campaign as a result of a search on Bing]

If you do a search on the internet using the phrase, "Imagine No Malaria," you will be amazed at the results which come forth. Links, links, and more links in this very high profile campaign which is directed toward eliminating the deadly disease of malaria in the continent of Africa.

As noted in one of the texts associated with a link, The United Methodist Church, has been very deeply involved the past few years since this issue attracted attention within the denomination. The bishops, district superintendents, pastors, lay persons, children and youth have become greatly involved. The conferences have rallied to raise a huge amount of money for the cause.

My wife and I have given support to the cause in the past. Certainly this is something that not only needs attention but action also required in order to eliminate the killer.

In one of the quotes above mention is made that every 60 seconds malaria claims a life in Africa. Then following that, "Millions of lives, needlessly lost each year." If the first statement about 1 life every 60 seconds is accurate, then the second statement is not. At rate of 1 every 60 seconds there would be 525,000 fatalities in a year's time of 365 days! That is hardly a "millions" figure, wouldn't you say?

As the campaign against malaria goes on there is another major issue and a possible slogan which is intentionally avoided in The United Methodist Church. You will not hear a bishop even quietly mention it in a very low volume whisper and the Council of Bishops will not publicly make a high profile statement, nor will their respective conferences pass aggressive resolutions about this thing which is nothing less than an abomination in the sight of Almighty God!

How about a campaign that holds high the slogan, "Imagine No Abortions?" One that is emphasized by the Council of Bishops with the same enthusiasm as they promote "Imagine No Malaria?" Tee shirts with "Imagine No Malaria" printed on them have been worn in a number of the annual conferences when they have been in session. How about printing up shirts that say, "Imagine No Abortions," and wear those during the annual meetings of the delegates?

On statistics, consider this - it was noted that there is 1 death every 60 seconds from malaria in Africa. In the United States, double that and then some -- in less than 1 minute's time 2 unborn children are intentionally mutilated and murdered as a result of a conspiracy between a pregnant female and a fellow who makes the absurd claim that he is a "doctor!" Isn't it the purpose of training a doctor to prepare him/her to use skills to enhance and preserve human life rather than deliberately destroy it?

That means more than 1,050,000 unborn children have been destroyed in a year's time in the "land of the free and the home of the brave" -- a nation in which historical documents point out that all persons should have "the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness!"

The bloody track record in the United States at this point in time (November 2012) is almost 55 million unborn children since some black robed people in Washington DC made the unholy and very deadly decision that it is a "constitutional right" for a female to dispatch her unborn child in pieces before he/she is born.

Ask a United Methodist bishop, or a district superintendent, or a conference official about malaria in Africa and be prepared for an extended conversation about the horrors of this thing, how so many are dying because of it, and what United Methodists are doing to eradicate it -- than ask about abortion and witness a sudden case of lock-jaw striking without warning! At the very best will come forth some words possibly that attempt in a feeble fashion to say, "It's a very complicated issue." Yeah, sure! There are a few of us (probably a very few) that do not see the dismemberment of a child whom God is forming in the womb (Jeremiah 1:4,5) as a complicated issue to be debated!

No, it is most unlikely there will ever come forth a bold, courageous, and confrontational statement about the "shedding of innocent blood" (to use God's words for this) and the fact that it has to stop or our republic will experience the devastating judgment of an angry God.

United Methodist silence on the subject will continue and the practice of destroying the unborn will continue -- that is, until Jesus Christ intervenes in His personal return to this planet and then the motto, "Imagine No Abortions," will become a reality in all nations around the world -- a lot of other good things are going to happen at that time also, simply because He has taken full control.

This commentary is stated by Clayton D. Harriger, United Methodist pastor who is a retired elder and member of the Western Pennsylvania Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church. Presently serving as pastor of Gipsy Christian Church in Gipsy, Pennsylvania.

I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them. How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; when I awake, I am still with You. --- Psalm 139:14-18

On the Other Hand, the United States Deserves Such "Leadership!"

They soon forgot His works; they did not wait for His counsel, but lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tested God in the desert. And He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul. --- Psalm 106:13-15

It is a lesson rarely ever learned -- what you earnestly desire may not be the best thing for you. In fact it may prove to be a disaster later on down the road. The ancient Israelites found out the hard way as they made their journey from Egypt to the land of promise in Canaan.

God had intervened through a series of miracles and set them free from centuries of slavery in Egypt. He had promised a land which was described as one flowing with "milk and honey!" It was a land where they would prosper, be wonderfully blessed, and be used to reveal to a heathen world Who God is, how he loves all people, and the fact that He has a wonderful plan for each person as they journey through life in this world.

But things did not go well at times on that journey from Egypt to the promised land. There were murmurings and frequent complaints in spite of the fact that God was providing daily food and drink for them. Their clothes were not wearing out from the wear and tear of daily traveling. They were not content with manna from heaven but wanted meat instead.

When God brought in a bunch of quail and the people hastily prepared and started to eat the meat, then they experienced God's wrath in judgment! But even worse, as Scripture reveals, God not only gave them their request for meat, but he sent leanness into their souls! There is nothing worse than to be poverty stricken in one's spirit -- in a strict sense, to be out of touch with God.

There has been a battle raging within the United States for decades. It intensified in the '50's and got worse as time moved on. Supreme Court decisions provided unmistakable evidence that the republic was on a path leading eventually to disaster and at some time in the future, ultimate collapse!

A first major decision, the results of which cannot be even a bit comprehended, was the banning of prayer and Bible reading in the public schools. It has been and continues to be hotly debated with even pastors and church leaders saying it was a good thing to ban such practices -- after all, we need to have "separation of church and state" you know! It is interesting to draw a comparison as to how it was in the schools before the decision and how it is now some time after such a decision in terms of behavior and relationships!

The second major disaster in terms of the Supreme Court causing our republic to revert to a heathen culture was the decision that it is a "constitutional right" for a female to choose to have her unborn child mutilated and murdered, even if that choice should be made just a few days before the scheduled birth is to take place!

Millions of unborn children have been destroyed since the infamous Roe v. Wade decision of 1973. God has not yet made His full response to this, but the series of calamities being visited upon our nation and the fact that intensity and frequency of the same are increasing indicate that the time may be much closer than any of us are willing to admit!

We are on the eve of an election as of the day of this posting (Nov 3, 2012) and an examination of values espoused by the candidates who want to be president starting at the third week of January 2013 would reveal a contrast in certain critical areas.

Due to the prevailing mood and dominant desires of the country at the present time, it would be fitting for the Obamas to continue in their present position which they have had for the past four years! The Obamas are vehemently supportive of the destruction of unborn children, always using a logic very similar to that of the Nazis of WW II era as to why some should live and others be exterminated before birth. That seems to be the preferred choice of a majority of U.S. citizens. Even professed "pro-life" members of Congress prefer to do nothing on this issue, showing no aggression whatsoever! And if Mitt Romney, who claims to be pro-life, should be elected, it is doubtful he will do much if anything about protecting the lives of the unborn -- it will likely be business as usual - the continued destruction of about 25,000 unborn children every week!

The Obamas are now very supportive of marriage between same-gender couples -- that is, they support sodomites marrying each other and lesbians marrying each other. In spite of God revealing clearly that marriage is a special convenant relationship between a male and a female, the Obamas have fully accepted the new "definition" of marriage that has been widely adopted throughout our culture in recent years! Mainstream media for the most part is quite positive on this issue. The entertainment industry is constantly throwing subject matter at us telling us what a good thing it is for people of the same gender to be married. And of course there is the growing practice of labeling anybody who does not accept this in the most negative terms possible, starting with them being "homophobic!" Pressure has been mounting for more states to permit persons of the same gender to legally marry.

The Obamas at best are quite indifferent to the church and its profession of faith that is centered in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord and only attend a worship service on an extremely rare occasion. Less than half of the United States' population of over 300 million people is able to find its way to a worship service on Sunday. There may be a few more in attendance on Easter Sunday and on the Sunday preceding Christmas. For over half of our population Sunday should be renamed Funday because it is a day of pursuing amusements, sports events, entertainment, or just about anything that will not remind people that there is an Almighty God to Whom we will give an account as to what we have done with the lives He made possible and which the vast majority have utterly wasted!

Further, under Mr. Obama's "leadership" (term used carelessly) our national debt is now in excess of 16 trillion dollars with nearly 1/3 of that accumulated during his term in office. Since this nation insists on spending money it does not have, it is appropriate that Mr. Obama continue as president and be "in charge" when the country goes belly up financially!

In spite of the fact that God has been faithfully issuing the call for personal and collective repentance, the response has been negative -- some may even dare to suggest, "What have we done that is so wrong?" That in itself is an indication of the deplorable spiritual, moral and ethical condition of our republic!

It behooves those who know and practice the experience of daily prayer to adopt the prayer of Daniel in the 9th chapter of the book that bears his name. It is highly likely that in the not too distant future we shall know whether enough persons have prayed and mercy has been granted or we will experience judgment and devastation unlike anything this nation has ever experienced in its entire history!

But for the moment the prevailing spirit of this republic is saying, "Give us Obama!"

Remember at the beginning there was a quote that ended, "....He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul."

Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. He also did evil in the sight of the LORD his God, and did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke from the mouth of the LORD. And he also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear an oath by God; but he stiffened his neck and hardened his heart against turning to the LORD God of Israel. Moreover all the leaders of the priests and the people transgressed more and more, according to all the abominations of the nations, and defiled the house of the LORD which He had consecrated in Jerusalem. And the LORD God of their fathers sent warnings to them by His messengers, rising up early and sending them, because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place. But they mocked the messengers of God, despised His words, and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against His people, till there was no remedy. Therefore He brought against them the king of the Chaldeans, who killed their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion on young man or virgin, on the aged or the weak; He gave them all into his hand. And all the articles from the house of God, great and small, the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king and of his leaders, all these he took to Babylon. Then they burned the house of God, broke down the wall of Jerusalem, burned all its palaces with fire, and destroyed all its precious possessions. --- 2 Chronicles 36:11-19

"....if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. --- 2 Chronicles 7:14

No Way, for Him or the Nation, to Be Blessed with Three Strikes Already Against Him!

The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spoke to me: 'He who rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. And he shall be like the light of the morning when the sun rises, a morning without clouds, Like the tender grass springing out of the earth, by clear shining after rain.' --- 2 Samuel 23:3, 4

Barack Hussein Obama is seeking a second term as president of the United States of America. Will he win the election? Ardent supporters are not hesitant to affirm that he will. There are those, of course, who support Mitt Romney in his bid for that high office.

Mr. Obama has at least 3 strikes against him in terms of experiencing favor and blessing from Almighty God. God's special revelation (the holy Scriptures) to the human race is crystal clear on the solemn responsibilities that fall on those who are at the head of the governments of nations. They are to carry out their responsibilities in the fear of God -- that is, to have proper acknowledgement of and reverence for the Creator of the heavens and the earth. Further, that responsibility also involves exhibiting a humble spirit and seeking daily guidance from God as one governs.

What are these three strikes against Mr. Obama?

Strike One: Mr. Obama is a staunch supporter of the practice of mutilating and murdering children before they are born! As a member of the Illinois legislature he successfully stonewalled efforts to protect and do all that was necessary to protect a baby that survived an abortion attempt to end its life. In some very rare circumstances it has happened. So what do you do when there happens to be a survivor of the United States' unique version of "Holocaust?" In Illinois there was a concerted effort to pass legislation that would make it mandatory to do all that was necessary to protect and preserve the life of an infant that miraculously survived an attempt to take its life before being born. Mr. Obama was the main player in organizing and successfully arranging for the defeat of that legislation! In his view, you just let the surviving baby lay on a table without any care given until it dies! Or speed the process up a bit and just toss it immediately into a dumpster.

As president Mr. Obama is clearly on record as supporting the present policy which results in the mutilation and murders of thousands of unborn children each week. He will oppose all legislation that seeks to restrict the process of destroying unborn children in any way.

God's view and purpose for conceived humans is in sharp conflict with that of Mr. Obama and consequently it means that the president has a major strike against him as a result. It also means a forfeiture of blessings which God has the power to bestow upon him and the nation he claims to lead!

Strike Two: Mr. Obama has now gone on record as supporting sodomites marrying each other and lesbians marrying each other. This is as deadly a move as the one cited above when he in great ignorance chose to support the destruction of unborn children! God has explicitly addressed the issue of human sexuality in His special revelation to us. Marriage, as God established it, is strictly limited to the uniting of one male and one female in a holy covenant. This covenant is to last until death separates the husband and wife. Early in the book of Genesis God reveals that a man will leave his father and mother and cleave unto his wife and the two will become one flesh. Jesus, in the Gospel accounts, confirms this sacred union and makes reference to the Genesis statement. No where is there even a hint of approval of same gender coupling. In the strongest terms possible same gender sexual activity is condemned. But unregenerate human nature being what it is, and under the guise of "scholarship," the Scriptures have been twisted, distorted, and perverted on such an issue as this. At the present time in our culture it is almost a sin for a male and a female to marry and the greatest and most noble thing for a couple of persons of the same gender to get married in those states that now permit such a union to take place "legally!" So the president forfeits further blessings and favor from God for sanctioning that which God considers nothing short of an abomination!

Strike Three: Mr. Obama has been showing a shift in his attitude toward Israel. He is more at home with and supportive of the Muslim nations than he is with the nation of Israel. His treatment of the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, in recent months has been deplorable. Most recently as the Prime Minister visited the United States, Mr. Obama had no time to meet with him but was able to schedule a time to be with David Letterman on his program! To abandon support for Israel is something akin to committing national suicide. Under terms of the covenant God made with Abraham a blessing is in store for those who are positive in relating to the descendants of Abraham and a curse in store for those who relate in a negative way (see Genesis 12 on this). There is specifically a blessing pronounced on those who pray for the peace of Jerusalem and love the people (see Psalm 122).

Most important is the fact that God has great plans for the Israelite people and the city of Jerusalem in the future. It also needs to be noted that no people have been more hated and despised throughout the history of the human race than have been those descended from Abraham through his son, Isaac. For some time in the past the United States has been strongly supportive of Israel and at times the only nation standing by this country which some want to see wiped off the face of this planet! But there has been a decided shift in attitude and support since Mr. Obama has set up shop in the Oval Office located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington DC. In his book, Audacity of Hope, Mr. Obama made the statement, "I will stand with the Muslims, should the political winds shift in an ugly direction." (P. 261). He also made a more recent statement, "The future must not belong to those who slander the prophet of Islam."

Other things could be also noted which are taking our republic down the road toward disaster, but the three just mentioned will absolutely guarantee that we cannot prosper nor can we survive much longer because the blessings of God are being obviously withdrawn. Deuteronomy 28 provides ample evidence that this is how it is right now!

Yes, Virginia, when you have had 3 strikes you are actually out -- you are done - finished - no longer up at the plate!

Moreover Manasseh shed very much innocent blood, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another, besides his sin with which he made Judah sin, in doing evil in the sight of the LORD. --- 2 Kings 21:16

They even sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons, and shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan; and the land was polluted with blood. Thus they were defiled by their own works, and played the harlot by their own deeds. Therefore the wrath of the LORD was kindled against His people, so that He abhorred His own inheritance. And He gave them into the hand of the Gentiles, and those who hated them ruled over them. Their enemies also oppressed them, and they were brought into subjection under their hand. Many times He delivered them; but they rebelled against Him by their counsel, and were brought low for their iniquity. --- Psalm 106:37-43